Street-Side Carolers

      Elise, a pretty little pink Zafara, was no exception to the festive spirit. She had been looking forward to the holidays since after the last holiday season drew to a close, for Christmas was, by far, her favorite holiday. Sure, Halloween was a real blast and Easter Negg hunts always were a joy, but nothing could have been better than Christmastime. She loved to ice skate in the park and drink hot cocoa by the fireplace, picturesque things that were completely unique to wintertime. It was hard to believe that anybody could hate this joyous time of year. However, that was true until Elise discovered a miserable recluse by the name of Elizabeth James.

      Never could Elise have thought that anybody could hate Christmas as much as her lonely neighbor, Mrs. Elizabeth Anne James, did. The Red Chia absolutely loathed the holiday, along with all associated with it. Every single year, Mrs. James would become peculiarly moody around the holidays and yell at every pet in the city that passed her way. Elise's owner said that something very bad happened to her around Christmas some time ago, and that, every Christmas after that, she remembered this and did not celebrate. She forever lived in a memory. Elise always wondered if somebody opened their heart to her around the Holidays, maybe, just maybe, she too would feel the way the whole of Neopia did about Christmas.

      One day, about a week before Christmas, Elise was busily putting up Christmas lights in on the windows, when she saw a rare site. Mrs. James was watching her from her yard: just staring.

      Elise made a friendly smile and greeted her neighbor, "Merry Christmas, Mrs. James! Are you doing well?"

      Mrs. James scowled. She snapped with a cold, sharp voice, "Well? Of course not, the holidays are here, and everybody's so happy… They don't even miss him…"

      Elise, with much curiosity, asked, "Him? Who is that…?"

      The old Chia replied, "Nothing… nobody… I should not have said that… really…"

      Elise, sensing a lot of pain and sorrow in her voice, quickly began to pity the old red Chia. Something about old Mrs. James made Elise feel really full of sympathy. It made her feel like crying.

      Elise answered her sadly, "Well, I'll be seeing you then. Have a Merry Christmas …"

      The batty old Chia flashed a peculiar half-smile at Elise, and opened the door to the secluded world that was her own home. Elise couldn't help but think that somehow, someway she did love the holidays deep inside her heart, but she was afraid to show this love. Maybe she could open up her heart to the holidays, so she, too, could once again enjoy the jolly festivities. Setting aside that thought for later, Elise continued to put up the lights until the house was all "aglow" with Christmas cheer.

     * * *

      The next day, Elise was walking down the main shopping road of Neopia Central when she saw Mrs. James gazing longingly at the front of a shop, were carolers were singing. She stepped behind a rose bush near the shop to get a closer look at the sight. The old Chia seemed to be looking at a group of carolers singing in front of the shop in unison. As Mrs. James looked at these carolers, tears began to trickle down from her eyes. She was crying!

      The carolers must have reminded Elise's neighbor of something horrible. Although Elise could not imagine what seemed so horrible about ten pets singing in a corner, sharing happiness together, she was no mind-reader, and therefore had no right to make false assumptions about the Chia in order to contemplate the mystery behind those tears. The Zafara watched as her neighbor walked away silently from the scene.

      Suddenly, Elise heard from behind her, "Hey, Elise? What're you doing hiding behind a bush?"

      Elise, who was startled, fell backwards on the floor from her kneeling position. Sitting back up, she cried, "Ouch! Melina, why'd you have to sneak up on me like that?"

      Melina was Elise's best friend. She could be a pest at times, but overall, the faerie Aisha was a great friend and only meant the best…

      Melina replied, with a wild grin on her face, "Well, I just wanted to mess with your brain… You know, I like the occasional laugh too."

      Elise did not respond… she still was staring at the carolers, thinking of Mrs. James.

      Sensing Elise's distraction, Melina inquired, "Elise, what's wrong? Are you feeling okay?"

      Elise nodded her head. She responded quietly, "Mrs. James…"

      Melina cried, "What? That old hag? What're you thinking about her for?"

      Elise, still gazing avidly at the carolers (clearly ignoring what Melina was saying), whispered in a very despondent tone, "Mrs. James… I wonder what's wrong with Mrs. James…"

      Melina tried to catch her friend's attention, "Elise…?"

      Elise turned to Melina. She said, "Melina, would you like to go caroling?"

      Taken aback, Melina said, "Um… I guess so…"

      Elise looked all around, and she smiled. She cheeringly cried, "We can carol our hearts content, and we will still do good. Don't you love the holidays?"

      Melina responded with a reassuring grin, "Yes I do!"

      The twosome happily walked together to gather their friends for caroling, knowing that they were in for some very happy Holidays indeed.

     * * *

      About ten young pets were there that day, all caroling their hearts content. Dressed up in their long woolen scarves; green, heavy winter coats; and red Santa Paws hats, they set off door to door to sing melodies of joy and cheer for all of Neopia's ears to hear. House to house they went, singing carols of all kinds.

      And so, the friends commenced to walk down the snowy road. They rang the doorbell of the first house. The door opened, and they sang their first Christmas carol:

     "You better watch out,

     You better not cry,

     You better not shout,

     I'm telling you why:

     Santa Paws is coming to Neopia.

     He sees you when you're sleeping,

     He knows when you're awake,

     He knows when you've been bad or good,

     So be good for goodness sake!

     Oh…………"

      It seemed every single house on the street was bedecked in Christmas lights and garlands of holly. However, there was one without a single hint of decoration. The home of Mrs. Elizabeth Ann James remained undecorated and bare.

      That poor lady… Elise thought, as she walked toward the house. The least we could do is carol to her to brighten her spirits a bit.

      That was exactly what they did. They rang the doorbell of the red Chia's house. A minute lapsed by until they felt the door swing open. Mrs. James stood behind the door watching them. A moment of silence…

      The red Chia screeched, "What do you want?"

      The young pets, unsure of what to do, stared blankly at her. All of a sudden, Elise burst into song. Her friends turned right and left, confused, they joined in:

      "Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?

      In Happy Valley, snow is glistening.

      A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight.

      Walking in a winter wonderland.

      In the meadow we can build a snowman,

      Then pretend that he is the tax beast.

      He'll say, 'Are you crazy?' We'll say, 'Yes, man!'

      'But that's why you're stealing our Christmas feast!'

      In the land we'll conspire, as we dream by the fire,

      To face unafraid, we need mental aid…

      Walking in a winter wonderland!"

      Mrs. James glared at the young carolers. When she was about to move her mouth to speak, she paused. She adjusted her spectacles to take a glance at Elise.

      She pointed her finger at the Zafara She said with a cold, harsh voice, "You there, come over inside! The rest of you can go away…"

      Elise walked cautiously up the front step. Her blood ran cold when the shrill voice of the old hag sounded. Though she certainly felt pity for the old one, it was true that she certainly was quite scary. The others looked upon Elise with great sympathy, as they despondently walked off into the distance.

      Elise watched the door shut. The fragrance of Mrs. James' house smelled of petpets and perfume. The distasteful drapery was the color of maroon, and the wallpaper, a horrible brown. The floor covering was a gaudy yellow lace. The Zafara cringed. Elise hated the whole air of the place. Accordingly, she hid her feelings with a grin, one that seemed sarcastic enough, however the Chia simply did not notice.

      The Chia pulled up a tattered purple armchair in the corner to her table. "Sit down, child," she said.

      Elise sat. "I will, thank you," she said gratefully. Her legs were frail from trudging through the snow daylong.

      The Chia grinned and put on her spectacles. She laughed. "Well, I know that you guys must've been tired out there doing whatever you were doing, but nevertheless…" Mrs. James remarked.

      Elise looked up. She asked, "Nevertheless… what?"

      Mrs. James sneered nastily, "You should not be knocking the door of an old lady's house while she was asleep to sing a bunch of silly little Christmas carols!"

      Elise blushed. She cried with much embarrassment, "I'm sorry, we had no idea-!"

      The old Chia said bitterly, "It was still ever so rude. I'm sure your owner would be ashamed of you if he found out."

      The Zafara blinked. She said reluctantly, "Yes… He would…"

      Suddenly, the Zafara noticed a picture of a young red Chia and a little boy on the wall. They were smiling, wearing Santa Paws hats and woolen mittens, and playing happily in the white snow. Seeing Elise staring at the picture, Mrs. James saddened.

     Elise sensed her despondence. She inquired, "Ma'am, am I making you cry?"

     The Chia turned her head to her. She answered, "No, child, it is not you that is making me cry. It is merely the memory of the picture that you now see that brings me to tears."

     Elise questioned, "And… what is that?"

     Mrs. James said, "Well, it was a long time ago… but many, many years ago, I had an owner named Mark. Oh! The laughs we shared… He loved the holidays, especially Christmas. We loved to carol on the streets on Christmas, and drink hot chocolate in the ice skating rink. Christmas would never be Christmas without him. However, one day, about three days before Christmas, he came home from school wheezing and coughing. He thought it was merely a cold. However, he had truly fallen ill. The next day, he was brought to the hospital. He must've stayed there for a day or so, hoping to be cured, but he only got worse and worse.

     "On Christmas Eve, just as he was dying, my owner called for me, and begged of me to sit by his bedside. I did so. When he saw I was crying, he laughed weakly and said, 'What's wrong, Lizzie? I'm doing better already. Just wait… you'll see! I'll be up and running in no time… just watch me! Just remember, don't have Christmas without me… Wait for me!' I wanted to believe him. Believe me, I did… but he only got worse. Through all the pain he went through, all he said was, 'Don't have Christmas without me…'

     "At the last moment all of a sudden he cried faintly, 'Don't… Don't have Christmas without me… Wait… Wait for me… Don't… Don't… Don't have Christmas…' He died that moment. And so I did not. The moment I returned home, I smashed all the ornaments, toppled the tree, and threw away the stockings. My tears followed behind me, as I destroyed Christmas. That year I did not celebrate the holidays… nor did I ever again."

     There was resounding silence. Elise cried sadly, "I'm so, so sorry… I had no idea… I…"

     Mrs. James said, "That's okay The past cannot be made up for… He will never come back."

     Elise sighed. She remarked, "You know, he is always with you."

     Mrs. James said, "What? How is that true if he is dead?"

     Elise said, "He cared about you. Because of that, his spirit is watching over you at every second. His memories are in you… He has lingered on inside your heart."

     Mrs. James said, "Is that so? I never realized…"

     Elise said, "Yes… For that reason, you will be keeping your promise if you celebrate Christmas, trust me."

     Mrs. James said gratefully, "Thank you so much… I am forever in debt of you…"

     Elise replied, "No, really… I just do not want to see you burdened with your memories."

     The old red Chia smiled at Elise. She said, "Merry Christmas, to you… and bless you…"

     Elise cried, "Merry Christmas, Mrs. James. Bless you too!"

     And with that, Elise stepped out into the white snow with cheer and happiness.

     * * *

     Elise woke up on Christmas Day cheerfully. She stepped carefully out of her bed covers and scurried quickly to the Christmas tree. Underneath the splendor of the carefully wrapped presents and the beautiful ornaments lay a small message written in pen on the floor.

     It said:

     "To Miss Elise Brown,

     A good friend of yours, Mrs. Elizabeth Ann James, passed away this morning. Before her death, she asked us to deliver this message to you.

     Sincerely,

     The Neopian Hospital"

     A small letter was attached. Elise's paws quivered as she read the letter:

     "Elise, thank you ever so much for freeing me from my past. I will soon be seeing my owner again, as my hours now run short. Remember that you must never give up hope. If one day you have a love one that dies, don't let it kill your life. Always believe in Christmas and love Christmas… For, you will always find joy and healing in the melodies of the holidays.

     Love,

     Lizzie"

     Elise looked up. She could have sworn she heard a chorus of Angels singing on high, welcome all to rejoice in the holiday. She saw the star on her Christmas tree light up and fade, as she experienced what was the true spirit of Christmas in her midst.

     Merry Christmas

The End